The first herbal remedy I ever tried came into my life as a tip from my eccentric singing teacher, a retired opera star with a fabulous blonde mane and an untamable spirit to match. She usually blew through the double doors to the suite of practice rooms a few minutes late, a flurry of flowing fabric and curly hair, and she never failed to douse the piano keys with a combination of hand sanitizer and echinacea before we started our lesson.
I wouldn’t use echinacea myself back then, but there was another herb in her arsenal that became a close companion through all of my years as a performer: Slippery Elm. I didn’t even know that it was an herbal remedy, per se, just that the little round tablets in the yellow packet of lozenges with “prized by opera singers” written on the label worked like a charm.
When my voice was tired or struggling after a cold or a series of late nights, I learned to let a Slippery Elm lozenge dissolve on my tongue. They had an earthy sweetness like nothing else I’d ever tasted, a flavor that came to feel as comforting to me as a warm hug or a soft pillow. “Slippery elm is a demulcent,” the back of the packaging explained, decoding the lozenges’ remarkable ability to soothe my throat and restore my voice. That’s how Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) had made its way into my life as the first plant in my Materia Medica, becoming the first herb that I ever recommended to someone else. (I eagerly pushed lozenges into the palms of friends and cast mates when their voices sounded rough or raggedy, and prided myself on saving the day when the little girl who played the title role in a production of “Annie” lost her voice—and the Slippery Elm lozenges I gave to her restored it.)
After a very long hiatus, I’ve returned to singing again. This time, another plant with similar properties is my ally in singing, and I want to introduce you. Slippery Elm is wonderful, but like so many wonderful herbs, it’s at risk from over harvesting and habitat loss. I avoid using it, and other herbs on United Plant Savers’ list, whenever possible. The comforting, soothing demulcent that I rely on instead is Mullein.
Mullein: An Herbal Cuddle-Buddy
When you see a full grown Mullein plant, it’s so tall and soft that you almost want to give it a hug. The little yellow flowers blossom close to mid-Summer in my area, and they’re wonderful for promoting relaxation and are reportedly effective as part of a classic remedy (garlic and mullein infused oil) for ear infections. The root also has interesting applications including urinary incontinence and neuralgia,* though I can’t speak to this from personal or clinical experience.
My real love of Mullein comes from what it does for my voice. Many people use it for dry, wheezing coughs, as its lubricating and expectorant qualities help to soothe the throat and lungs while also encouraging your cough to be productive. (Productive coughs “get the gunk out,” so to speak.) It’s impossible to sing well, or even give a speech or teach a class, when your vocal apparatus is dry, dehydrated, or plagued with phlegm that you can’t seem to cough up. And since the tissue of your vocal folds is so thin, mild dehydration and muscular tension can cause big problems. Mullein helps with all of these things, and it has a very mild flavor that’s easy to drink even for people who are new to using herbs.
There’s also something that’s less quantifiable, something that’s more in the realm of relationship and subjective experience. Part of what makes Mullein so impressive to me is its combination of strength and softness. In its first year of life, it stays close to the ground, storing up the energy that it will need for the impressive growth of its second year and flowering. When it’s ready, it sends up a strong, flexible stalk that’s as tall as a person. All the while, its leaves are soft and fuzzy as a teddy bear. Many herbalists before me have been impressed by these qualities, and have written about how they lend the plant an affinity for relieving back pain and helping to restore the lubrication in the joints of the spine. Since Mullein is the ally for my voice, I think about the way that those same properties inform healthy self-expression and support the function of the delicate but powerful anatomy of your voice.
Mullein & Mint: A Tea to Free your Voice
An easy way to give mullein a try is to mix the dry leaves with any plant in the mint family that you like.
(Some ideas: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) to uplift your spirits, Catnip (Nepeta cateria) to promote sleep and relaxation, or Peppermint (Mentha piperita) for mental clarity and good digestion.)
I like to use about 1/4 cup of Mullein leaves and 1/8 cup of Peppermint leaves. Whatever combination you choose, place the herbs in the bottom of a Mason Jar and cover with a quart of water. Let the herbs steep for 20-30 minutes, then strain. You can drink the resulting brew over the course of the day. Toss out any that you don’t finish within 12 hours.
Enjoy the subtle flavor and soothing effects, and drink this brew knowing that the world needs your voice, your truth, and your expression.
